The Role of Multispiral Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Early Laryngeal Cancer

Objective. To assess the role of multislice computed tomography (MSCT) in determining tumor resectability in laryngeal cancer at stages T1 and T2 for endolaryngeal resection (ELR).

Materials and methods. The study is based on the results of clinical examination of 45 patients with laryngeal cancer stages T1, T2, who were treated in the oncology department from 2020 to 2025. The average age of participants was 62 years, including 42 men (93.4%) and 3 women (6.6 %). Patients were divided into two groups: 25 (55.5 %) had stage T1 disease (tumor confined to one area without mobility impairment), while 20 (44.5 %) had stage T2 disease (tumor infiltrating adjacent structures and limiting mobility). All patients underwent multidetector computed tomography, and a form was completed to assess tumor resectability. After evaluating the tumor as resectable, endolaryngeal resection of the larynx was performed, and MSCT findings were compared with histological results.

Results. During the contrast phase in all patients of the sample, accumulation of contrast agent was observed with visualization of clear boundaries of lesion and spread to adjacent anatomical structures of larynx (in stage T2). Most patients had tumors located in the anterior third of vocal fold. The minimum values for both groups of patients according to multislice computed tomography were as follows: 1.3 mm from tumor to anterior commissure, 2.7 mm to posterior commissure, and 0.8 mm to thyroid cartilage (paraglottic space). When comparing MSCT results with histological findings after ELR, there was concordance in 42 (93.4 %) out of 45 patients with laryngeal cancer (stages T1, T2), resection margin being negative. In 3 (6.6 %) cases data did not match: preliminary diagnosis of T1 turned out false positive twice (hyperplasia cells found), while one case showed artifact changes at resection edge (false-negative result).

Conclusions.

1. MSCT is a highly informative diagnostic method for early-stage laryngeal cancer. Its sensitivity in assessing tumor resectability for both patient groups was 97.7%, accuracy — 93.3 %, predictive value of positive result – 95.4 %.
2. According to correlation analysis, moderate positive association between MSCT method and histology results was established r = 0.4 (high significance, p < 0.01).
3. To determine tumor resectability in early-stage laryngeal cancer, it is necessary to fill out malignancy evaluation form based on MSCT data before transferring information to surgeon.

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